From marine biology to gallery walls: At Lux, artist Courtney Mattison draws attention to the fragility of our oceans

Courtesy photo

Courtney Mattison's work is on exhibit at the Lux Art Institute as part of her residency at the Encinitas institution.

Courtney Mattison's work is on exhibit at the Lux Art Institute as part of her residency at the Encinitas institution. (Courtesy photo)

G. James Daichendt

Combining interests in marine biology and ceramics, Los Angeles-based artist Courtney Mattison creates three-dimensional renditions of coral reefs that swirl, extend and seem to grow from the smooth gallery walls of Lux Art Institute. The first artist-in-residence to kick off the new year, Mattison possesses an aesthetic that’s organic in nature — one that does not necessary apply to her precise and exact artistic process, but it does leave us with a powerful lesson about our tenuous relationship with the ocean.

A love for marine biology was kindled as a high school student. Growing up in the Bay area, Mattison became enamored with learning about the ocean and its fragile underwater ecosystem. Applying this education through ceramics, she felt that she could understand the material better if she sculpted it. Exploring the anatomy, forms and relationships of marine biology with a three-dimensional method became a kind of experiential learning.

It wasn’t until college that Mattison realized that art could serve as something much more powerful than a learning strategy. That is when she transitioned from an explorer to an activist, using her developing skill-set as a craftsperson to create commentaries about coral reefs and the delicate position they hold in our ecosystem.

Coral reefs are often referred to as “the rain forests of the sea” because they host approximately 25 percent of all the ocean’s species despite their small footprint. Pollution, climate change and overfishing are just a few of the factors that challenge the health of coral reefs around the world and threaten their continued survival.

While Mattison’s work at first appears colorful and energetic, the swirling wall-based sculptures also hold a layer of sadness. Looking past the intricate detail and multitude of creative glazes, several of the ceramic pieces are painted white, referencing something called coral bleaching. In the ocean, this bleaching is the result of stressors like unusual water temperatures or lack of nutrients. If the stress continues, the coral eventually dies.

As one looks past the plethora of interesting forms and details in Mattison’s work, the stark whiteness is where the engagement process forces a reaction from the viewer. Either one can ignore the lack of color or one can become angry that such a thing is happening. A form of art protest, Mattison’s work lures the visitor to look closer and then confronts them with a dilemma.

The exhibit is largely made up of two series: “Our Changing Seas” and “Hope Spots,” both of which have differing messages. “Our Changing Seas” features large and imposing multifaceted sculptures that address the predicament of coral reefs, while “Hope Spots” features small, isolated pieces that seem to be healthy and thriving bits of coral. Oceanographer Sylvia Earle coined the term “hope spots” and suggests these locations are critical to the future health of our oceans and are important locations to preserve and protect. Mattison captures this optimism through circular vignettes that appear warm and sentimental due to their size and location in the gallery.

The fragility of Mattison’s ceramic pieces beckons us to touch them, but this tension is a nice reminder that we need to care for and not abuse the ocean ecosystem that supports us. Art as activism veiled in beauty, Mattison’s love of marine biology has grown into something special that deserves our attention.